Organizer Information
The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) is a professional school of the University of California, Los Angeles. Its academic programs are organized across four degree-granting departments: Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design | Media Arts, and World Arts and Cultures/Dance. The school also offers the school-wide Visual and Performing Arts Education minor. UCLA Arts combines studio practice, critical studies, research, and interdisciplinary creative work.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of California, Los Angeles — School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts)
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MS, M.Arch., PhD, Minor
- Academic Fields: Architecture, Art, Design, Media Arts, Games, Computational Art, Dance, World Arts and Cultures, Choreography, Culture and Performance
- Relevant Programs: Architectural Studies; Art; Computational Art; Design; Games; Dance; World Arts and Cultures; M.Arch.; M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design; M.A./Ph.D. in Architecture; MFA Art; MFA Media Arts; MFA Choreographic Inquiry; PhD Culture and Performance
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate: October 1–November 30; graduate deadlines vary by department
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate UC application: November 30; graduate deadlines are program-specific
- Start of Studies: Fall quarter
- Application Fee: $95 per UC campus for international undergraduate applicants; $155 for most international graduate applicants
- Tuition: Undergraduate university fees: $16,430/year; nonresidents additionally pay $39,270 nonresident supplemental tuition. Most graduate programs: about $21,115/year for California residents and $36,297/year for non-California residents.
- Funding: UCLA Arts scholarships, departmental awards, graduate financial support, fellowships, and teaching/research opportunities are available, subject to eligibility.
UCLA Arts currently lists undergraduate majors in Architectural Studies, Art, Computational Art, Design, Games, Dance, and World Arts and Cultures. Graduate offerings include programs in architecture, art, media arts, and choreographic inquiry, with doctoral study in Architecture and Culture and Performance.
Eligibility
Undergraduate applicants apply directly to an UCLA Arts major. First-year applicants must meet UCLA's first-year admission requirements; transfer applicants must meet UCLA transfer requirements and apply to a specific major. UCLA Arts undergraduate applicants must identify the relevant Arts major as their first-choice major when required and complete the applicable supplemental application.
For graduate admission, applicants must complete both the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission and the relevant departmental supplemental application. Requirements differ substantially by program.
Educational Background
Graduate applicants must hold an appropriate university-level degree. For example, applicants to the MFA in Art and MFA in Media Arts must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; the MFA in Media Arts additionally requires a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last two years of upper-division undergraduate study.
International graduate applicants must hold a recognized university-level degree; UCLA identifies certain three-year ordinary degrees and vocational or specialized postsecondary qualifications as ineligible for graduate standing.
Language Requirements
International undergraduate applicants whose secondary education was not sufficiently conducted in English must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test. UCLA's current competitive benchmarks are TOEFL iBT 5 or higher on the revised scale, IELTS 7.5 or higher, or DET 135 or higher.
Graduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless they qualify for UCLA's prior-education exemption. UCLA accepts TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic; the minimum is TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the revised scale or IELTS Academic 7.0. Some graduate programs may impose higher requirements.
Application Fee
| Applicant Level | Applicant Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | International applicant | $95 per UC campus |
| Graduate | International/other applicant | $155 |
The undergraduate fee is charged through the UC application system. Graduate applications generally require a nonrefundable $155 fee for applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Category | Published Tuition / Fees | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | California resident | $16,430 university fees | Academic year |
| Undergraduate | Non-California resident | $16,430 university fees + $39,270 NRST | Academic year |
| Graduate — most MA/MS/doctoral programs | California resident | About $21,115 | Annual |
| Graduate — most MA/MS/doctoral programs | Non-California resident | About $36,297 | Annual |
| M.S. Architecture & Urban Design | All categories | $63,610 | Per program |
Graduate professional and self-supporting programs can have substantially different charges. The M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design is listed as a self-supporting degree at $63,610 per program for 2026–27. Mandatory university, student, and health-insurance fees may also apply.
Funding & Financial Support
UCLA Arts offers scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students, including departmental awards. The UC Regents Arts Scholarship is restricted to qualifying incoming undergraduate freshmen and transfers who are California residents and meet the stated academic criteria. UCLA states that international undergraduate students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are not eligible for UCLA undergraduate scholarships or financial aid.
Graduate students may receive merit- and eligibility-based support, including fellowships, financial assistance, Teaching Assistant positions, and Research Assistant opportunities. Funding varies by department and is not guaranteed.
University Services & Academic Support
UCLA Arts provides access to faculty mentorship, studios, shops, laboratories, research centers, museums, exhibitions, performances, and interdisciplinary academic activity. Its research infrastructure includes centers such as the Art|Sci Center and UCLA Game Lab, while the Hammer Museum, Fowler Museum, and Center for the Art of Performance provide additional cultural and research environments.
International students receive visa, immigration, academic, cultural, and community support through UCLA's Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars.
Application Requirements
Verified program-specific requirements include:
- B.A. in Art: portfolio of 8–10 images plus additional written statements.
- B.A. in Dance: department statement, video audition, and Self Portrait Multimedia Project.
- B.A. in World Arts and Cultures: two department statements.
- B.A. in Design Media Arts: creative portfolio through the DMA supplemental application.
- MFA in Art: bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, and portfolio.
- MFA in Media Arts: bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA in the last two years of upper-division study, portfolio of no more than 10 original works, two recommendation letters, written statements, and official academic records. Finalists may be invited to an interview.
Application Portal
Prospective Students | UCLA Arts
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate UC Application Opens: 1 August 2026
- Undergraduate Application Filing Period: 1 October–30 November 2026
- B.A. in Art Supplemental Application Deadline: 20 January 2027
- B.A. in Dance Supplemental Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- B.A. in World Arts and Cultures Supplemental Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- M.Arch., M.S.A.U.D. and M.A./Ph.D. in Architecture Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
- Graduate Application Period: Department-specific; UCLA Arts states that the earliest graduate deadlines occur in November.
Start of Studies: Fall quarter
Location
UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture — Los Angeles, United States
Additional Details
UCLA Arts is implementing significant undergraduate changes for Fall 2027. The Department of Design Media Arts is launching separate B.A. programs in Computational Art, Design, and Games, replacing its previous single undergraduate Design Media Arts degree structure.
The B.A. in Architectural Studies is transfer-only and is not open to first-year applicants.
Graduate admissions are particularly program-specific: applicants should not assume that portfolio, interview, audition, recommendation, or statement requirements apply across all UCLA Arts programs. UCLA explicitly directs applicants to their individual department for the applicable requirements and deadlines.